Something To Build On

Dougie Freedman confident his side can continue to progress ahead of the weekend's trip to Brighton

Dougie Freedman insists that he has seen notable improvements in his side over recent weeks, and he is confident that Wanderers can go on an unbeaten run that will see them move up the table.

Freedman has enjoyed a solid start to life with Bolton, going undefeated and securing six points in his opening four games, and the Scot believes that the Trotters can now build on from recent results.

“I think that we are capable of going on unbeaten runs,” Freedman said, speaking at his Brighton pre-match press conference. “I understand that we have gone four games undefeated, and obviously I would like to have more points if I am very honest, but it is something to build on.

“I think that we can keep on building and get into the top half - this division is very close and six points could be the difference come then end of the season. Next month is important as we can get some points back and get into the top half.

“I feel with the eight games that are coming up, I think we have to put a lot of points on the board to get into that top half, and if we can get probably tenth downwards we are pretty much loading the gun up ready to fire out of the blocks in January.

“They are all big games, this division is very tight, and I feel that we are playing and gradually getting belief getting confidence of how we are playing and making sure that teams aren’t getting that many opportunities against us. But we are working on a lot of areas and I feel that our forward play has been good but could probably be better, but I am trying to build some foundations to be where we are trying to be.

“We were 2-1 up against Blackpool with 10 minutes to go, we were 1-0 up against Barnsley at home, and I should be disappointed and I don’t want to be always looking back. The only way I will look back is to learn from what we done wrong and I don’t think we have done a lot wrong.

“If we win these games we will have a totally different look on the table, and I think we have the capabilities to do that. So it is not far at all, we have taken leaps in games, we are looking nice and strong defensively, we need to keep on going and keep on believing on what we are doing and I believe that we have enough fire power to get goals we just need to remain tight at the back.”

Freedman also revealed that Gregg Wylde and Michael O’Halloran have gone out on short-term loan moves to gain some valuable playing time, but the manager doesn’t expect any more exits or arrivals before the end of today’s deadline.

“It doesn’t look like anyone is coming in, there is maybe one that I have to look at for a bit of cover really, but I don’t think that we need to add to the squad.

“Going out is young Gregg Wylde who will be going out to play some games, young Michael O’Halloran is going to go out and play some games too. I felt that Joe Riley needed to go out and play some games as well but we couldn’t quite find the right development team for him.

“When these young guys go out it is all about the development and playing, they will get their training here the way I want to train them but they need some matches, but no one else will be leaving.”